Glue applicator for labeling machines



1, 1950 D. B. LEWIS 2,517,395

GLUE APPLICATOR FOR LABELING MACHINES Filed Jul 51, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Flirt.

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GLUE APPLICATOR FOR LABELING MACHINES v Filed July 31, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVETOR. aawgm Patented Aug. l, 1956 GLUE APPLICATOR FORLABELING MACHINES Dallas 38. Lewis, l ies Angeles, Calif. ADPIiGELfiOn July 31, 1947, Serial N0. 765,089

Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for applying labels to cylindrical containers such as tin cans and the like; more particularly it relates to improvements in the means for applying adhesive to the labels in such apparatus.

Labeling machines are known in which the containers, cans or the like, are confined ona track and rolled therealong b a moving belt. In its advance along the track, each can has a spot of quick-drying adhesive applied to its periphery, the can subsequently contacting and advancing over a stack of labels. When the can reaches the labels, the adhesive engages the foremost end of the top label and adheres the end thereof to the can so that further advance of the can causes the label to be withdrawn from the stack and wrapped around the can. A belt moving transversely across the rear end of the label stack applies adhesive to the rear end of the labels, the arrangement being such that the advance of the can and the resultant wrapping of the label, pulls therear end of-the label from beneath the belt. Thereafter means are provided to press this rear end against the previously adhered front usually is in continuous contact with the topmost label of the stack until this label is removed by the passage of a can. Thus if there is any substantial increase above normal in the interval between passage of successive cans, this label will receive an excess of adhesive, resulting in an unsightly appearance of the, label when applied to the delayed can. Further, the label stack acts to scrape the adhesive from the belt, so that the adhesive accumulates on one edge of the stack and in the event of delay in the passage of the cans, will run down the side of the stack. If the machine is shut down with the label stack in such condition, the labels are likely to stick together, so that a substantial number are rendered unfit for use.

It is another object of this invention to provide adhesive applying means wherein such application of excess adhesive is prevented.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an adhesive applicator which applies adhesive to successive labels in accordance with the use or application of'the labels to containers.

This invention possesses many other advantages and has other objects which may be made more easily apparent from a consideration ofone embodiment of the invention. For this purpose ;there is shown a form in the drawings accomfined by the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1;,is a longitudinal section, largely schematic, showing a conventional labeling machine incorporating the glue applicator of the invention; 3 i

Figure 2 is a similar viewof a fragment of the machine, on an enlarged scale;

Figure 3 is a view similar toFigure 2, but showing a succeeding step in the application of a label; 20

Figure ,{l is a transverse section taken substantially as indicated by line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross sectiontaken substantially as indicated by line 5-5 of Figure 2; Figure 6 is a cross section on an enlarged scale, takensubstantially as indicated by line li6 of Figure 1, and

Figure 7 is a crosssection of a can with label attached. i i i Referring toFigure 7, wherein the thickness of the can wall as well as of the labelare greatly exaggerated, the can is indicated by the letter KCfand the label by the letter L. The inner end of the label is adhered to the can by small areas or spots of glue, often termed pick up glue, which extend longitudinally along the outer surface of the can, as indicated at P. The outer end of the label Ef overlaps thisinner endand is secured by an appropriate adhesive which substantially covers the overlapped portionf, a

Referring in detail to the labeling machine, the machine comprises track forming means 6, providing a, pair of surfaces 1 and 8 extending the length of the machine, for supporting the ,cans C adjacent their. opposite ends, as shown in Figure 4.] The cans C are fed at suitable intervals from the right of Figure 1 andare e ngaged by the resilient belts 9 and Ill passing over pulleys as l l and I2 rotatably mounted above opposite ends of the track 6. The belts 9 and ID are driven byappropriate means, not shown, to roll the cans C along the track 6 toward the left. i H l To maintain the lower reaches of ,the belts 9 and l llin proper drivingrelation with thefcans Q,

3 several transversely extending idlers or rollers I3 are provided which are vertically movable in the guides M. The weight of these rollers, supplemented if necessary by compression springs l5, urges the belts 9 and I downwardly against the cans C.

As a can C advances toward the left, Figure l, the first step is the application of the pickup glue; this is a quick-drying glue usually applied hot. For this purpose, a suitable receptacle I6 is provided beneath the track 6. A plurality of rotatable elements I! are rotatably mounted by a shaft It! so that their lower portions dip into the glue in this receptacle and their upper portions will contact the can surface as the cans advance over the receptacle l6.

To facilitate the necessary adjustment to insure proper engagement of the can surface C and the elements H, the rails I and 8 terminate on opposite sides of the receptacle l6, supplemental track members or rails l9 and 20 being provided for supporting the cans as they pass over the receptacle it (see Fig. 6). Spaced ahead of the pick-up glue applicator is a stack 2| of the labels L. The label stack 2| is supported between appropriate vertical guides 22 and 23 on a table 24 operated by conventional label feeding mechanism 25. The label stack 2| is so spaced and arranged with respect to the glue applicator and the track 6, that when a can C reaches the stack, J

the pick-up glue on the can will cause the foremost end of the label L to adhere to the can, as shown in Figure 2. The feeding mechanism 25 serves to advance the stack 2| upwardly as required to maintain the topmost label in position to contact the advancing can. Such mechanisms are well known in the art and accordingly will not be described herein.

As the can continues to advance, the adhered label is lifted from the stack 2| and wrapped about the can, as shown in Figure 3. In order to cause the rear end of the label to adhere to the can, adhesive is applied to this end of the label before the wrapping of the label is completed and before the label is withdrawn entirely from the stack 2|.

For this purpose a belt 26 is provided, the lower reach of which moves from an adhesive container 2'7, transversely of the label stack 2| (see Figure 4) and normally spaced out of contact with the topmost label, as shown in Figure 2, means generally indicated by 30 being provided for causing the belt 26 to contact the label upon the can C reaching a predetermined point in its advance. As the can C travels past this point, the means 30 releases the belt 26 which resumes its normal, out of contact position.

In this way, excess adhesive on the labels such as would occur with the belt 26 continuously in contact with the labels is avoided. Such excess is particularly objectionable, should the supply of cans C be interrupted. In any event, with the belt 26 continuously contacting the label stack, the stack scrapes the adhesive from the advancing belt, the adhesive running down the side of the stack. Then if the machine is shut down, such adhesive hardens, rendering the stack of labels useless.

By providing a momentary contact of the belt just before the label is used, the above objectionable occurrences are avoided.

As the can continues its advance from the position of Figure 3, the label is wrapped around the-can, and the overlapping end pressed in place by a resilient pad 3| which extends between the 4 rails 1 and 8, and against which the can is pressed by the belts 9 and I0.

Referring to Figure 4, the belt 26 passes over an idler .28 in the container 21 and about a pulley 29 driven by suitable means (not shown), the idler 28 and pulley 29 being so positioned that the belt 25 when free assumes the broken line position above the label stack 2| (Figure 4) and as shown in Figure 2.

To insure adequate application of adhesive, it is desirable that the speed of the belt 26 should be so related to the rate of advance of the cans C that the same portion of the belt surface does not contact successive labels of the stack 2|.

The means 36 comprises a pair of fingers 32 and 33 joined for common movement by a bar 34 and pivotally mounted on a rock shaft 35 extending between the rail members I and 8. The fingers 32 and 33 are positioned respectively adjacent the opposite edges of the label stack 2| and have lower projections 32a and 33a. for engaging the belt .26. The fingers 32 and 33 at their free ends rotatably support respectively the rollers 36 and .2! adapted to be contacted by the can C.

The fingers 32 and 33 are maintained normally out of contact with the belt 26 by a light tension spring 38, a suitable stop pin 39 being provided t limit movement of the fingers in response to the spring, so that the rollers 36 and 31 project slightly above the track 6. The track 6 is upwardly inclined adjacent the label stack 2| to an elevated portion providing space therebelow for accommodating the means 319 (see Figure 2). As the can advances, its periphery engages the rollers 36 and 31, urging the fingers 32 and 33 downwardly so that the projections 32a, and 33a force the belt 26 against the label, as shown in Figure 3. As the can advances further, the fingers are released and resume their normal positions above the belt.

In order to laterally position the cans C on the track 6, guide means are provided for engaging the opposite ends of the cans. Thus, as shown in Figures 4 and 6, a continuous rod 4| may extend along one side of the track, a series of spring pressed shoes 42 being provided along the other side and serving to confine the cans against the rod 4|.

Iclaim:

1. In an adhesive applicator: an adhesive hear- 'ing belt moving in spaced relation with respect to a surface to which the adhesive is to be applied: a pivotally mounted element adapted to engage the opposite side of said belt from said surface; means resiliently maintaining said element free of the belt; and means foroperating said element to engage the belt and urge said belt against said surface in response to the passage of an article past said element.

2. Inan adhesive applicator: an adhesive bearing belt moving transversely with respect to a surface to which the adhesive is to be applied; pivotally mounted fingers respectively adjacent the opposite ends of said surface adapted to engage the side of said belt opposite said surface; means resiliently maintaining said fingers free of the belt; and means carried by said fingers engageable by an article passing said belt for causing said fingers to engage the belt and urge said belt against said surface.

'3. In a labeling machine for cans and the like: an adhesive bearing belt supported for movement across the rear end of a label stack and normall spaced therefrom; a movable element engageable with the side of said belt opposite said stack for urging said belt against the outermost label in response to the passage of a can over said stack; and means resiliently maintaining said element free of the belt.

4. In a labeling machine for cans and the like: an adhesive bearing belt supported for movement across the rear end of a label stack and normally spaced therefrom; a movable element engageable with the side of said belt opposite said stack; means resiliently maintaining said element free of the belt, said element being operable by a can passing said stack, to engage said belt and urge it against the outermost label.

5. In a labeling machine for cans and the like: an adhesive bearing belt supported for movement across the rear end of a label stack and normally out of contact therewith; a movable element having a portion engageable with that side 6 of the belt opposite the label stack; means spaced rearwardly of said stack pivotally mounting said element; and means resiliently urging said element out of engagement with the belt, said element being engageable by a can passing said stack, for operation to engage said belt; and urge it against the outermost label.

DALLAS B. LEWIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS;

Number Name Date 497,368 Crittenden et a1. May 16, 1893 787,628 Morral Apr. 18, 1905 1,627,946 Wild May 10, 1927 

